Nagpur, December 16: Legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) arrived for the winter session of Maharashtra assembly wearing caps on which 'I am Savarkar Too' was written in Marathi. BJP MLAs wore 'I am Savarkar Too' caps to protest against Congress lawmaker Rahul Gandhi's controversial remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar which even drew ire from party's ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena. Opposition leader and former state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also seen wearing the 'I am Savarkar Too' cap.

Speaking at Congress's Bharat Bachao rally in Delhi on December 15, Rahul Gandhi said that in the Parliament, the BJP MPs asked him to apologise "but I want to tell them that I am not Rahul Savarkar, I won't apologise. I will not apologise for speaking the truth." BJP lawmakers, led by Union Minister Smriti Irani, had asked Gandhi to apologise in Lok Sabha over 'Rape in India' remark, which he made in Jharkhand's Godda district during a public rally. Election Commission Seeks Response From Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer on Smriti Irani's Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi For His 'Rape in India' Remark.

The Congress leader made the statement when he attacked the Narendra Modi government over rising crimes against women, saying: "The Prime Minister had launched 'Make in India' but, nowadays, it is 'Rape in India'." At the Bharat Bachao rally, Gandhi sought to deride Savarkar by saying: "I am not Rahul Savarkar, and I will not apologise for speaking the truth." His remarks triggered a political row and drew criticism from the Shiv Sena. Rahul Gandhi Does a Tit For Tat, Tweets Video Clip of Narendra Modi Saying 'Delhi Has Been Made Rape Capital', Demands Apology From PM For the Speech.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut sternly said: "We respect Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Veer Savarkar is not just Maharashtra's but the entire country's idol, who sacrificed his life for the country's freedom. Hence, he (Veer Savarkar) should not be insulted in any manner, and there can be no compromise on this." Reacting to Gandhi's remarks, Fadnavis sarcastically said that "just because someone has the Gandhi surname does not make him a (Mahatma) Gandhi," and demanded an apology from him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2019 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).